Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2014)
^lortlanh ©bserücr May 21, 2014 Page 15 Blazers Future Bright after Playoff Run c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 9 "Riiiipppp Ciiiittttyyyy!" The hometown fans went wild. The Blazers were considered an iffy pick to even get to the playoffs, let alone make it past the first round. But a couple of key acquisitions and maturation in its star players made Portland one of the most promising teams in the NBA. "A lot of people had us ninth or 10th in the West, they didn't think we would be able to compete the way that we did. We worked hard, we believed in ourselves," Lillard said. Portland's season got off to a fast start. The team opened 24-5 to rise to the top of the Western Confer ence standings, boosted by the offseason acquisition o f center Robin Lopez and a seasoned point guard in Mo Williams, who backed up Lillard and sparked the Blazers' bench. Lillard and forward LaMarcus Aldridge went on to be All-Stars. Aldridge was m aking his third straight trip to the annual show case, while Lillard became the first player to participate in all five events staged during All-Star weekend. The team slumped slightly in March, going 4-9. The slide was capped by a 95-85 loss at Orlando on M arch 25. But Portland re bounded by winning nine of their final 10 games, wrapping up the regular season with a five-game winning streak. The March swoon coincided in part with the absence of Aldridge, who missed seven games because of a lower back contusion. His re turn steadied the team for the push toward the playoffs. The Blazers finished the regular season with 54 wins, the team's most since the 2008-09 season, and bet tered their record by 21 wins over last season for the biggest turn around in franchise history. Aldridge finished the regular sea son with career highs in points (23.2) and rebounds (11.1), his success augmented by the play of Lopez in the middle. He is the only Blazer besides Sidney Wicks (1971-72) to average more than 23 points and 11 rebounds in a season. Aldridge averaged 26.2 points and 10.6 rebounds in the playoffs. His 46 points in the postseason opener against the Rockets set a franchise record for most points in the playoff game. Lillard averaged 20.7 points and 5.6 assists in the regular season while Lopez averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds. Lopez has made 326 offensive rebounds this sea son, setting a new franchise record, and he had a career-high 29 double doubles. The Blazers defeated the Rock ets in six games — capped by Lillard's stunning 3-pointer — but fell in the Western Conference semi finals in five games to the San An tonio Spurs. The Blazers returned to the play offs this season for the first time since 2011. After getting bounced in the first round their previous six tries, the series against Houston advanced the Blazers to the second round for the first time since 2000. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had nothing but compliments for the Blazers. "I congratulate those guys for playing as hard as they did," the coach said. "They have got a bright future. They have a bunch o f young guys who play their butts off." Stotts said there were many posi tives about this season. “It’s im portant that we look back at what we were able to ac com plish this year,” Stotts said. “We got a taste o f the playoffs. We got a taste o f success. It is som ething we can build on going into next season.” B ids SUB BIDS REQUESTED Q U A R T E R M A S T E R B U IL D IN G F O U N D A T IO N Happy Valley, Oregon Oregon Military Department Bid Package #1 (Includes, but Is not limited to , TREE/SHRUB REMOVAL, SUBGRADE PREP TO INSTALL A NEW FOUNDATION FOR A RELOCATED WOOD BUILDING, FOUNDATION/PIER WORK UNDER A RELOCATED WOOD BUILDING, AND CIVIL/WATERLINE RELOCATION. Bids Due: MAY 27th at 3:00PM Bid Documents - RFP AND PLANSET AVAILABLE A T THE CONTRACTOR PLAN CENTER P R E C IS IO N C O N S T R U C T IO N C O M P A N Y O F O R EG O N Phone: (5 0 3 ) 25 3 -4 8 2 7 - Bid Email: Michael-telliiig@hoffmancorp.com 8025 NE Killingsworth- Portland, OR 97218 - CCB License # 60684 We are an equal opportunity employer and request sub bids from all interested firms including disadvantaged, minority, women, disabled veterans and emerging small business enterprises. Avalon Flowers 520 S W 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250 A full service flower experience •Birthdays • Funerals Coaching Contract Extended •Anniversaries • Weddings place and I'm very proud to be the Open: M on.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm head coach of the Trail Blazers," Saturday 9am til 2pm. zation," said Blazers General Man said Stotts. "We started the pro ager Neil Olshey. "This extension cess two seasons ago and laid the Website: avalonflowerspdx.com Cori S tew art- illustrates our confidence in him as foundation for success. I look for Owner, Operator email: avalonflowers@msn.com our head coach as well as the Port ward to the possibilities of the up We Offer Wire Services land Trail Blazers' continued com coming seasons." mitment to building a model of con sistency and stability." Stotts led the Trail Blazers to a 54- win season, marking the largest im F u n era l provement in franchise history and H ome the sixth-best record all-time after the team went 33-49 the previous year. Portland won its first playoff series in 14 seasons, defeating the Houston Rockets in six games and setting up a Western Conference Semifinal matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. The postseason Every time wc arrange a personalized funeral service, we take special pride going berth was the team’s first since 2010- 11. the extra mile. With our online Memorial Obituary, now we can do even more. "Portland is a unique and special c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 9 T erry F amily 2337 N. Williams Ave. Portland, Or 97227 503-249-1788 We make the service personal, You make the tribute personal. Terry Stotts 49ers Draft Former Grant Star c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 9 land, has been drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. Acker was the No. 4 pick in the sixth round (180th overall) of last week’s NFL Draft. He was a three-year starter at SMU and earned second- team All Conference USA hon ors. The football star also boasts a 36-inch vertical leap. Kenneth Acker Friends and family can find out service information, view photos, read obituary. order flowers and leave personal messages of condolences from anywhere, anytime. Sim ply go to o u r w ebsite. www.terryfamilyfuneralhome.com “Dedicated to providing excellent service and superior care o f your loved one ” Dwight A. Terry Oregon License CO-3644 Amy S. Terry Oregon License FS-0395
